Tribute

to Ivin and Pearl Gee
August 10, 2000

As I look at the lives of our parents, Ivin and Pearl Gee, I see lives driven by one fundamental idea: " . . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh. 24: 15). It is true that there were a few other things is their lives; for example, Mom taught school, and in addition to Dad's being Meteorologist in Charge at the Lander Weather Station, he was a member of Rotary International; they attended the Community concerts and were otherwise involved in some community activities. Nevertheless, their lives were centered in the Church. Everything they did had a Church orientation. Our little branch rented a variety of halls to meet in, but this was not good enough. We needed a building of our own. After the Church building project got started, Dad took the early shift at work, so he could spend afternoons roto-tilling gardens to earn money for the building fund.

Of course, we went to Church every Sunday. That was a given. And there we were taught the gospel. But, we didn't hear scriptures quoted only at Church. Mom had a scripture quote for almost any occasion. The significant thing to me is that she and Dad not only knew the scriptures and were able to quote them but they lived them.

Here are some of the scriptures that I remember my mother quoting:

D&C 64:33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

D&C 58:27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

D&C 88: 124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

Can you imagine how that kind of advice would be accepted by a teen-age boy? She figured if it was scripture, it was good advice, so she passed it on. But in addition, Mom meant it and she lived it. Even today, when one might think that they could retire, Mom's hands are rarely idle. She continues to keep busy doing something. A quilt, a little thing-a-ma-jig to crochet, always something. They go to bed early, and are up and about before most of us are ready for the day.

D&C 18: 10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

Sometime in the late 50's, Mom and Dad got acquainted with Rosalee Jackson. Rosalee's granddaughter Rosemary was a sweet little girl, and the folks wanted to help where they could. In 1957 there was no kindergarten in the Gas Hills nor anyone willing to baby sit so it was decided that Rosemary would come to live with them. She could go to school with Mother in the morning and go to kindergarten and eat lunch with Mother. Dad would work a 5 AM to 1 PM shift and pick her up and tend her until Mother got home from school. She would spent the summers with her grandmother Rosalie. They kept this up until they legally adopted her in 1966.

She was better than most teen age girls of her age. She refused the invitation to attend the Junior prom because her 16th birthday was not until three days after the prom. I have it on good authority that had she asked Dad about it he would have given his consent.

She graduated from high school in 1970 and went to Ricks for two years where she met Steven Wall. They were married in the Salt Lake temple in 1972. They have 4 children: Amy, Heather who is married and has a son Brody, Jay who is on a mission to South Africa, and Lynsey who is a champion soft ball pitcher.

They believe that the worth of souls is great.

D&C 4:2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

When they were not engaged in something else, they were serving missions, and working with friends and neighbors, to help others receive the same truth and joy they have.

D&C 53: 7 And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end.

This was another point that Mom continued to help me understand. And they are continuing to teach this by their lives today.